賀煜 唐安冰

The 10th Anniversary of Establishing Sister Relationship Between Chongqing and Antwerp

By He Yu/ The World and Chongqing? ?Photos by Tang Anbing/ The World and Chongqing

In October 2011， Chongqing Municipality of China and Antwerp Province of Belgium signed the Agreement on the Establishment of Sister Relationship. In the same year， the POM Antwerp set up its representative office in Chongqing to promote cooperation between two places.

Over the past decade， two sides have witnessed multiple high-level mutual visits， continuous economic and trade exchanges， active matchmaking between businesses and vibrant people-to-people exchanges， making the foundation of friendship increasingly solid.

On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of sister relationship between Chongqing Municipality and Antwerp Province， two places held an online meeting celebrating the 10th anniversary of the establishment of sister relationship and promoting further economic， trade and people-to-people exchanges on December 22nd， 2021， to review the achievements of cooperation between two places in the past and jointly open a new chapter of friendly exchanges and cooperation. Wang Wen， Director-General of Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal Peoples Government， Ludwig Caluwe， Chairman of POM Antwerp， and Pierre de Strycker， Managing Director of POM Antwerp， attended the meeting and delivered speeches. Li Mingquan， Deputy Director-General of Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal Peoples Government， hosted the event.

“Since the establishment of sister relationship between Chongqing and Antwerp， there have been frequent mutual visits， more in-depth pragmatic cooperation and increasingly strong friendship. Antwerp has become one of Chongqings sister cities in Europe which has the most frequent exchanges with Chongqing.” Wang Wen said that Chongqing looks forward to further deepening pragmatic cooperation in various fields based on the existing solid foundation. It was proposed that two places continue to strengthen economic and trade cooperation， extend the scope and depth of exchanges， and deepen people-to-people exchanges， to embark on a brighter journey of next 10 years hand in hand.

“I have visited Chongqing for multiple times and also received delegations from Chongqing. We felt the enthusiasm of Chongqing and saw the development potentials of cooperation between Antwerp and Chongqing in these interactions.” Ludwig Caluwe， Chairman of POM Antwerp， said that in the past decade， Antwerp and Chongqing have tapped a lot of potentials for cooperation in education， logistics， science， management， business and other aspects， and the cooperation agreement between two sides has been progressing smoothly. In the future， the POM Antwerp will establish better communication platforms for businesses from two sides， create bridges for connection， making the cooperation between two sides closer and extending to a wider scope.

“Eating hot pot should be the first thing I want to do in Chongqing. Besides， I am particularly interested in learning about the rapid economic and social growth in Chongqing.” Pierre de Strycker， the Managing Director of POM Antwerp， said that he hoped that after the pandemic， he could have face-to-face exchanges with Chongqing， as well as learning more about Chongqings internationalization path， the potential opportunities for Antwerp enterprises to develop in Chongqing， and the future direction of cooperation between two sides.

In the process of establishing and deepening the sister relationship between Chongqing and Antwerp， Luc Broos， the former Managing Director of POM Antwerp， contributed a lot. Broos has visited Chongqing more than ten times and made outstanding contributions to promoting the establishment of sister relationship and exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

At the event， Wang Wen， on behalf of the Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal Peoples Government， presented the “Certificate of Friendship Envoy of Chongqing” to Broos， and Zeng Su， Chief Representative of POM Antwerp in China， received the certificate in Chongqing on behalf of Broos.

“For more than ten years， Chongqing has given me very precious memories.” Speaking of Chongqing， Broos recalled with deep emotions： We had a lot of mutual visits， interactions and cooperation in various fields. I was deeply impressed by Chongqings unique buildings， beautiful natural scenery， profound cultural heritage and outstanding advantages of smart manufacturing. Every time I go to Chongqing， I feel very warm. After ten years of hard work， at least half of Antwerp enterprises know Chongqing and hope to cooperate with Chongqing. I am glad to see that the two places have laid a very solid foundation for cooperation. I hope that the POM Antwerp will continue to deepen the relationship between two places.

At the meeting， the Foreign Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipal Government and the POM Antwerp signed the Letter of Intent for Further Deepening Cooperation Between Chongqing and Antwerp， so as to continue the friendship between two places and deepen cooperation in various fields.

During the exchange session， representatives from Chongqing University， Antwerp University， Chongqing Bureau of Ecology and Environment， Cleantech Flanders， Liangjiang New Area Free Trade Office （Liangjiang New Area Administration Office of China-Singapore （Chongqing） Connectivity Initiative） and Antwerp Science Park discussed the progress and future plans of university cooperation， environmental protection cooperation， industrial parks and intention to jointly look into the future direction and path of cooperation and lay a sound foundation for further cooperation.

Ten-Year Friendship， Growing Stronger

Over the past decade， two sides have witnessed multiple high-level mutual visits， continuous economic and trade exchanges and vibrant people-to-people exchanges.

Antwerp has participated in the Smart China Expo for four consecutive years and has participated in many important international exhibitions in Chongqing， such as the Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade. Chongqing has also sent delegations many times to participate in international exchange activities such as the Antwerp Forum and the Industry Matchmaking Meeting hosted by Antwerp， making full use of the high-quality platform resources of both sides to consult extensively and promote cooperation. Enterprises from two places actively matchmake in industries including environmental protection， high-end services， automation， medical equipment and technology， light industry manufacturing， food trade and cross-border e-commerce. Two sides have cooperated closely in China-Europe Railway Express （Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe International Railway） in terms of goods distribution， arrangement of shipment and promotion.

Universities from two places have carried out exchanges in logistics， rehabilitation， management and other disciplines， organized joint talent programs and mutual visits of students.

After the onset of COVID-19， Chongqing and Antwerp extended sympathy and support to each other. The Chongqing Municipal Peoples Government also donated medical surgical masks to the Antwerp government to jointly respond to challenges.

2011年10月，中國重慶市和比利時(shí)安特衛(wèi)普省簽署建立友好城市關(guān)系協(xié)議。同年，安特衛(wèi)普省經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展局在渝成立代表處，專門致力于推動(dòng)兩地合作。

十年來，兩市省高層多次互訪、經(jīng)貿(mào)互動(dòng)不斷、企業(yè)對(duì)接積極、人文交流活躍……友誼之基愈加堅(jiān)實(shí)。

重慶市與安特衛(wèi)普省建立友城關(guān)系十周年之際，2021年12月22日，兩地在線上舉行了建立友城關(guān)系十周年紀(jì)念暨經(jīng)貿(mào)人文合作交流會(huì)，共同回顧兩地過往合作成果，攜手開啟友好交流合作新篇章。重慶市政府外辦主任王雯，安特衛(wèi)普省經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展局主席凱樂為、局長史賽克出席會(huì)議并致辭。市政府外辦副主任李明全主持活動(dòng)。

“重慶與安特衛(wèi)普建立友城關(guān)系以來，人員往來頻繁，務(wù)實(shí)合作持續(xù)深化，友好情誼與日俱增，安特衛(wèi)普已成為重慶在歐洲交往最頻繁的友城之一?！蓖貊┍硎荆磥?，重慶愿在已有良好合作基礎(chǔ)上，進(jìn)一步深化各領(lǐng)域務(wù)實(shí)合作。建議兩地繼續(xù)加強(qiáng)經(jīng)貿(mào)合作、不斷拓展交流層級(jí)、持續(xù)深化人文交流，攜手走過下一個(gè)更加精彩的十年。

“我曾多次到訪重慶，也接待過重慶的代表團(tuán)。交往中，我們感受到了重慶的熱情，看到了安特衛(wèi)普與重慶合作的發(fā)展?jié)撃??！卑蔡匦l(wèi)普省經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展局主席凱樂為表示，過去十年，安特衛(wèi)普與重慶在教育、物流、科學(xué)、管理、商業(yè)等各個(gè)方面，都挖掘了非常多的合作潛力，雙方的合作協(xié)議進(jìn)展順利。未來，安特衛(wèi)普省經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展局將為兩地企業(yè)建立更好的溝通平臺(tái)，為其搭建溝通的橋梁，讓雙方的合作更加緊密，延伸至更廣領(lǐng)域。

“吃火鍋應(yīng)該是我到重慶要做的第一件事，除此之外，我也特別有興趣了解重慶經(jīng)濟(jì)社會(huì)快速增長情況。”安特衛(wèi)普省經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展局新任局長史賽克說，希望疫情結(jié)束后，能與重慶方進(jìn)行面對(duì)面的交流，更多地了解重慶的國際化道路，了解安特衛(wèi)普企業(yè)在重慶發(fā)展的潛在機(jī)會(huì)，以及雙方未來的合作方向。

在重慶與安特衛(wèi)普建立深化友城關(guān)系過程中，安特衛(wèi)普省經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展局前任局長呂克·布羅斯功不可沒。布羅斯曾十余次訪渝，為推動(dòng)兩地建立友城關(guān)系和各領(lǐng)域交流與合作作出杰出貢獻(xiàn)。

活動(dòng)現(xiàn)場，王雯代表重慶市政府外辦向布羅斯頒發(fā)了“重慶友好使者證書”，安特衛(wèi)普省經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展局駐中國首席代表曾甦在重慶現(xiàn)場為其代領(lǐng)。

“十多年來，重慶給我留下了十分珍貴的回憶。”談到重慶，布羅斯深情地回憶道：我們有很多互訪，在各領(lǐng)域進(jìn)行互動(dòng)，開展合作。重慶獨(dú)具特色的建筑，優(yōu)美的自然風(fēng)光，深厚的人文底蘊(yùn)，突出的智能制造優(yōu)勢等都給我留下了非常深刻的印象。每次到重慶，都感覺很溫暖。經(jīng)過十年的耕耘，至少有一半的安特衛(wèi)普企業(yè)都知道重慶，并且希望與重慶開展合作。我很高興看到兩地已經(jīng)打下了十分堅(jiān)實(shí)的合作基礎(chǔ)。希望安特衛(wèi)普省經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展局能繼續(xù)深化兩地關(guān)系。

會(huì)上，市政府外辦還與安特衛(wèi)普省經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展局共同簽署了《重慶市與安特衛(wèi)普省進(jìn)一步深化合作意向書》，延續(xù)兩地友誼，深化各領(lǐng)域合作。

交流環(huán)節(jié)，來自重慶大學(xué)、安特衛(wèi)普大學(xué)、重慶市生態(tài)環(huán)境局、法蘭德斯清潔技術(shù)協(xié)會(huì)、兩江新區(qū)自貿(mào)辦（中新辦）、安特衛(wèi)普科技園的相關(guān)代表，分別就高校合作進(jìn)展情況和未來計(jì)劃、環(huán)保合作進(jìn)展情況和未來計(jì)劃、園區(qū)情況及合作意向等內(nèi)容進(jìn)行了互動(dòng)交流，共同展望謀劃未來合作方向和路徑，為下一步合作奠定良好基礎(chǔ)。

十年友誼歷久彌新

十年來，兩地高層多次互訪，經(jīng)貿(mào)互動(dòng)不斷，人文交流活躍。

安特衛(wèi)普連續(xù)四年參加智博會(huì)，多次參加西洽會(huì)等重慶重要國際會(huì)展活動(dòng)，重慶也多次組團(tuán)派員參加安特衛(wèi)普主辦的安特衛(wèi)普論壇、產(chǎn)業(yè)對(duì)接會(huì)等國際交流活動(dòng)，充分利用雙方優(yōu)質(zhì)平臺(tái)資源共商共促合作。兩地企業(yè)積極對(duì)接，產(chǎn)業(yè)涵蓋環(huán)保、高端服務(wù)業(yè)、自動(dòng)化、醫(yī)療設(shè)備和技術(shù)、輕工制造、食品貿(mào)易和跨境電商等多類別。雙方在中歐班列（渝新歐）貨物分撥、貨源組織和推廣方面合作密切。

兩地高校在物流、康復(fù)、管理等學(xué)科上開展交流，聯(lián)合培養(yǎng)人才、組織學(xué)生經(jīng)常性互訪。

新冠肺炎疫情暴發(fā)后，重慶與安特衛(wèi)普互致慰問表達(dá)支持。重慶市政府還向安特衛(wèi)普省政府捐贈(zèng)了一批醫(yī)用外科口罩，共克時(shí)艱。